A Rochester man is arrested for allegedly plotting to kill American soldiers as they returned to Western New York.

Mufid Elfgeeh, 30, was arrested Saturday afternoon on two counts of receiving and possessing an unregistered firearm silencer, according to a criminal complaint.

“He purchased two firearms, two silencers and ammunition for $1,050,” U.S. Attorney William Hochul Jr. said today in a press conference in Rochester. “As revealed in the complaint, which charges Mr. Elfgeeh with these offenses, Mr. Elfgeeh expressed on numerous occasions his interest in killing American servicemen as they’re returning from the war zones.”

Hochul said the investigation was at a very early stage, but spelled out what punishment he could face based on the charges.

“Mr. Elfgeeh faces 10 years in jail for each silencer and that would bring – because he intended to purchase two of them -- possible maximum exposure of 10 years, or a $250,000 fine or both.”

Hochul also says that that Elfgeeh, a naturalized American citizen from Yemen, allegedly planned to kill members of the Shia Muslim community in Rochester.